Chemistry prof awarded highest Chinese honor

One of Penn's top Chemistry professors recently returned from China, where he was honored last month with the country's highest civilian honor.

Nobel Chemistry laureate Alan MacDiarmid received the Friendship Award last month in Beijing, in a ceremony hosted by Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu.

The award celebrates "outstanding contributions to China's economic and social progress." This year, the number of recipients was increased from 50 to 84 foreign experts as part of celebrations for the 55th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

The award honors MacDiarmid's work in nanoscience and renewable energy sources, conducted at the Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute of Jilin University in China. In addition to chairing the institute and holding a faculty seat at Penn, MacDiarmid holds a faculty position at Jilin and is the first foreigner to have a Chinese academic institute named after him.

Though the professor won the Nobel Prize in 2000 for his collaborative work in synthetic metals, he said that he is now moving into other fields.

"The trouble is, there are so many fascinating areas for me to work," he said. "Right now, I'm active in China promoting renewable energy. It is particularly applicable over there, where they face an energy shortage."

This does not mean that he has left all his previous work behind -- in fact, much of MacDiarmid's research into energy sources harnesses his past experience in organic plastics and polymers.

"We are investigating the nanoscience of these organic plastics to help create new sources of energy. This includes biomass -- reusing excess biological materials as fuels -- and the storage of hydrogen in synthetic metals so it can be used safely in your fuel tank," MacDiarmid said.

Currently, MacDiarmid and other scientists at Penn are working with the U.S. Department of Energy to assist in developing hydrogen-based fuels for cars, a project outlined by President George W. Bush early in his tenure.

Though the initiative is still awaiting federal funding, the infrastructure has already been organized, with institutions such as Pennsylvania State University, the California Institute of Technology, Duke University and Rice University participating.

At the same time, he is active in his native country of New Zealand -- which also has a MacDiarmid Institute.

"I'm trying to get New Zealand to collaborate with China on renewable energy. As the two countries are close to signing a free trade agreement, it will be easier for more cooperation to go through, as it will be good politically and economically for both."

And he is not finished yet. Continuing in his role as the longest-serving employee of the School of Arts and Sciences, MacDiarmid said he will keep working and teaching.

"I could've retired, but here I am doing 60 hours a week instead. My question always is, how can I use my expertise in a constructive sense to better the future?"

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